Key references

2013

Community Affairs References Committee (2013)

Australia's domestic response to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Commission on Social Determinants of Health report "Closing the gap within a generation".

Canberra: Parliament of Australia

This report is the result of a Senate Community Affairs Committee inquiry into Australia's domestic response to the World Health Organization's (WHO) commission on social determinants of health report Closing the gap within a generation. It includes:

a broad overview of the theory and evidence indicating that social determinants play an important role in individual health outcomes in Australia

a summary of the World Health Organisation published report Closing the gap in a generation and its key recommendations

a discussion of government responses to the social determinants of health in Australia - current state and Commonwealth government initiatives are reviewed, including Closing the gap initiatives and South Australia's, Health in all policies approach

a summary of the current data gather mechanisms for the social determinants of health, as well as arguments regarding the efficacy and appropriateness of current efforts.

The inquiry comprised of 68 public submissions from organisations and individuals and four public hearings. Submissions, additional information, the Hansard transcript of evidence and responses to questions on notice can be accessed through the committee's website at the link below.

2008

Social justice report 2007.

Sydney: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

This report, released annually by the HREOC through the Office of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, considers the impact of government activity on the exercise and enjoyment of Indigenous people's human rights.

This year's report provides 19 case studies of Indigenous communities tackling family violence and abuse, as evidence of what can be achieved in the fight against child abuse and family violence in Indigenous communities. The report also considers the human rights impact of the Northern Territory intervention. A ten point action plan is outlined for modifying the Northern Territory intervention. The reports includes 14 recommendations, 2 in relation to support for building on promising practices in family violence and child abuse, and 12 in relation to the Northern Territory intervention.

Altman J, Biddle N, Hunter B (2008)

The challenge of 'closing the gaps' in Indigenous socioeconomic outcomes.

Canberra: Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research

In March 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signed a declaration of intent to eliminate the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and other Australians by 2030.This paper uses census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics to examine the change in Indigenous socio-economic outcomes from 1971 to 2006. This data is also used to estimate when the statistical gap might close, making extrapolations to 2041. The report concludes with some observations about what these findings might mean for national government policy.

Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage in New South Wales.

Sydney: Parliament of New South Wales

Steering Committee for the Review of Commonwealth Service Provision (2008)

Report on Government services 2008: Indigenous compendium.

Canberra: Productivity Commission

This compendium was produced by the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision (SCRGSP) as a part of its Report on Government Services, an annual review of the performance government services provided in each jurisdiction.

The compendium, which contains all Indigenous data reported in the main report, includes information about: the Indigenous health workforce; selected health indicators; use of public hospitals; use of Indigenous community healthcare services; and health management issues.

Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision (2007)

Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage: key indicators 2007.

Canberra: Productivity Commission

The Council of Australian Governments commissioned the Steering Committee for the Review of Commonwealth Service Provision in 2002 to provide regular reports against key indicators of Indigenous disadvantage. In 2007, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to 'closing the outcomes gap between Indigenous people and other Australians over a generation'. This report (third in the series) provides indicators of Indigenous disadvantage, with a focus on areas where governments can make a difference.

This publication reports on seven strategic areas for action:

early childhood development and growth;

early school engagement and performance;

positive childhood and transition to adulthood;

substance use and misuse;

functional and resilient families and communities;

effective environmental health systems;

and economic participation and development.

The report consists of three parts:

the overview, which summarises the report's key messages

the main report, which provides more detailed information and the evidence base supporting the framework and choice of indicators

the tables, which include data used in the report (published on the review website)

The report documents that some outcomes have deteriorated, including Indigenous people's involvement with the criminal justice system. Many environmental and behavioural risk factors that contribute to poor health outcomes have not improved. There were improvements reported in some of the economic indicators, such as home ownership and employment rates and in some child health outcomes. For some indicators where there have been improvements outcomes for non-Indigenous people have also improved, meaning a gap in outcomes persists.

2006

Hunter BH, ed. (2006)

Assessing the evidence on Indigenous socioeconomic outcomes: a focus on the 2002 NATSISS.

Canberra: Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Australian National University

The conveners of the Indigenous Socioeconomic Outcomes Conference: Assessing Recent Evidence, argue that despite the exponential increase in data on Indigenous affairs in recent years there is a need for more acute analysis and interpretation of this material. Based on a critical appraisal of the data collected in the 2002 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, these edited proceedings present a range of responses to evidence on Indigenous economic and social status, family and community life, and discuss its implications for government policy.

Indigenous education funding: final report.

2004

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2004)

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2002.

Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics

This report documents the findings of the second Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) national social survey of Indigenous Australians. The survey was designed to analyse the complex social circumstances and outcomes experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The findings include information on: family and culture; health; education; work; income; and housing. Tables present relationships across some of the topics, and comparisons with the 1994 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey (NATSIS) and with non-Indigenous data from the 2002 ABS General Social Survey. The report documents improvements in education and employment, but it is evident that Indigenous Australians still experience disadvantages when compared with non-Indigenous Australians, and in some areas, particularly health, there has been little progress.